Grabie & Grabie, LLP
162 Terry Road
Smithtown, NY 11787

P: 631.360.5600
F: 631.360.3370

You work hard for your family, so knowing that you have planned for their long term well-being and financial security can bring you comfort. Whether planning the care or support of loved ones after your death or guiding you through the probate process as you mourn the loss of a loved one, the attorneys at Grabie & Grabie, LLP can help with all aspects of trusts and estates issues, including:

• Estate planning
• Estate tax issues
• Executorship duties
• Guardianship
• Living wills
• Living trusts
• Probate
• Probate and will disputes
• Will drafting and execution

Estate planning
When devising an estate plan, we consider how best to protect your children, support your loved ones and contribute to the charitable causes that are special to you.

We thoroughly analyze your estate and strategize the best means of transferring your assets, minimizing taxes, establishing guardianship for your children, caring for your pets, supporting personal philanthropic causes and protecting your loved ones. We draft a will that reflects your desires, and establish living trusts if they advance your individual needs and your estate planning goals.

A will is essential at every stage of your life. Your will provides you with the opportunity to distribute your property, establish care for your children and otherwise express your wishes upon your death. A will is necessary if you intend to leave property to somebody besides a blood relative, such as a domestic partner, a friend or a charity. If you die without a will, the court determines how your property is distributed, who cares for your children and even what happens to your beloved pet — decisions that might not reflect your desires. At Grabie & Grabie, LLP, our attorneys can draft a valid will that ensures your intentions are honored. 

Changing your will
As your life changes, so might your estate plan. You may need to update your will throughout your life. Grabie & Grabie, LLP drafts valid codicils that address changes in your financial situation, marital status, numbers of children, philanthropic interests and general lifestyle decisions.

Appointment of guardianship
If you have minor children, your will allows you to make decisions about their future care, especially crucial if you are a single parent or if both parents die in a common incident. If you do not name a guardian, the court will appoint a guardian for your children and can make decisions adverse to your ultimate parenting goals. You can also make arrangements for your pets’ care in your will, including naming a guardian who will take responsibility for your pets.

Trusts
We help people create trusts to ensure that their assets are properly managed and held for the future use of their family members or designated beneficiaries.The assets held by a trust can be used to pay for necessary medical, educational and health-related expenses for the trust's beneficiaries. Because a trust is designed to exist for a certain period of time, the courts require that a trustee be chosen to administer and be responsible for the management of the trust. A trust may be included in your will or defined as a separate legal entity. Sometimes trusts are used to avoid the probate process or to minimize estate and income taxes.

Probate
The process of probate typically accompanies a painful emotional loss. The knowledgeable, meticulous probate attorneys at Grabie & Grabie, LLP can ease the stress of probating the estate.

We assist executors in all steps of the complex process of probating a will in New York probate court, including:

• Creating a plan of action to probate the estate fairly and expeditiously
• Filing the will with the New York probate court
• Closing and opening bank accounts
• Transferring assets from the deceased to the estate
• Paying taxes and other debts
• Locating beneficiaries
• Hiring professionals and experts when necessary

Probate disputes
The stress of a probate dispute can compound the pain of losing a loved one. When disputes arise, our attorneys’ composed courtroom demeanor can calm the emotionally charged process of challenging an invalid will or defending a valid will against erroneous claims made by unhappy beneficiaries. If you choose to preserve amiable family relationships, our attorneys can skillfully mediate disputes to reach just, equitable resolutions with your loved ones. When necessary, we assertively defend your beneficiary rights within the New York probate court.

Contact estate planning lawyers you can trust
For thorough and professional legal service throughout New York, call Grabie & Grabie, LLP at 631.360.5600 or contact the firm online to schedule an appointment.